Ghost
The world's most popular open source publishing platform.
Overview
Ghost is a versatile and powerful platform for creators, publishers, and businesses who want to build an independent publication. It's open-source software that can be self-hosted or used via their managed hosting service, Ghost(Pro). It combines a modern publishing toolkit with native email newsletter and membership features, allowing creators to build a business around their content.
✨ Key Features
- Professional Publishing Tools
- Native Memberships & Subscriptions
- Email Newsletters
- Customizable Website & Theme Marketplace
- Open Source & Self-hostable
- Detailed Engagement Analytics
- Content Gating (Free & Paid Tiers)
🎯 Key Differentiators
- Open-source and self-hostable for full control
- Combines a full-featured website/blog with newsletter capabilities
- No transaction fees on memberships
Unique Value: Offers complete ownership and customization for creators who want to build a full content business, not just a newsletter.
🎯 Use Cases (4)
✅ Best For
- Independent publishers
- Professional bloggers and journalists
- Businesses using content marketing
💡 Check With Vendor
Verify these considerations match your specific requirements:
- Users who are not tech-savvy and need an extremely simple setup
- E-commerce businesses needing product-focused marketing automation
- Marketers looking for a traditional email marketing service with visual automation builders
🏆 Alternatives
Provides more power and flexibility than Substack, and is more focused on publishing and newsletters than a general-purpose CMS like WordPress.
💻 Platforms
🔌 Integrations
🛟 Support Options
- ✓ Email Support
- ✓ Dedicated Support (Creator and above tier)
🔒 Compliance & Security
💰 Pricing
✓ 14-day free trial
Free tier: Open source software is free to self-host.
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